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Solangel had stumbled a little on her walk home, but the cold winter air was keeping her awake not to mention the thought of Jacob waiting for her at the Haven. She reached the front door and pushed it open as a gust of cold air followed behind her. There sitting on the stairs waiting was Jacob. He jumped to his feet and pulled her close hugging her tightly. “Hi…nice to see you too.”, Solangel said returning the hug happy to be back in his arms. “You scared the shit out of me! Do you know that!? You’re Angel! You never say ‘if’. You never doubt.”, Jacob said pulling back a little to look at her. “I’ve been trying over these years to adjust to knowing that I can’t always protect you from things, but I never want you to say if again.”, Jacob explained. Solangel nodded. “I won’t. Now I promised you full disclosure of the SMB. That where we start?”, Solangel asked. “You also promised me full nudity. I’ll take that first then if we aren’t too tired we can talk about the SMB.”, Jacob stated starting to take off Solangel’s jacket. Solangel chuckled a little and wigged out of her jacket letting it just fall near the coat closet. “Nudity it is then. Enjoy what little alone time we have.”, Solangel said grinning. She was fine with putting off telling him the details of what had happened fifteen years ago and her part in it all. She’d found extra energy at the idea of just losing herself in physical intimacy with him. She kicked off her boots assuming they’d be getting in the way. She giggled a little as he scooped her up off the ground and carried her up to their bedroom locking their door behind him.

The room was exactly as they’d left it, her hand cuffs attached to the bars of the headboard eagerly waiting to be clasped around someone’s wrists. Originally it was going to be Jacob cuffed to the bed and begging for Solangel’s mercy, at least that was her plan. But apparently having left him so abruptly and given the impression he may never see her again Jacob had decided to change the plans and laid Solangel down on the bed. Once he had her on the bed he took hold of her shirt and pulled it up and over her head. Taking advantage of the fact her arms were stretch up he clasped the cuffs around her wrists. Solangel tried to pull her arms down but heard the familiar clink of the cuffs. “Seriously? This is where you’re supposed to be not me.”, Solangel protested a laugh in her voice. Jacob smiled raising his brow at her. “Yep. That may have been the plan, but this time you aren’t going to be getting away from me. Door is locked and now you are locked up too.”, Jacob stated. “You know with just a word I could be out of these.”, She said tugging at the cuffs. “Oh I know, but I know you won’t do that. You enjoy being cuffed just as much as I do.”, Jacob said before starting to kiss along her neck, nibbling a little as he did. He continued to smile each time she squirmed with each nibble and kiss. He kissed down to the top of her bra reaching around her and unhooking it and tossing the strapless red bra to the side. Solangel shivered a little, still a bit cold from having walked home from the park. She didn’t have the body most guys wouldn’t find attractive. She was extremely thin, not helped by her height, despite her heritage she didn’t have much in the way of an ass, her hips were on the more narrow side and she certainly wouldn’t say she had much in the way of cleavage still sporting an A cup in her late 30s. The one benefit of her heritage she got was that she was aging gracefully and still looked in her 20s. She’d lucked out when she met Jacob that he wasn’t one of those ass or boob guys he was a personality guy.

He noticed the shiver started to run his hands along her torso. “You getting cold Angel?”, Jacob questioned playfully as nibbled at her hardened nipple. Solangel let out a ‘mmm’ as she still wiggled under his touch. “Just a little, was a long cold walk here.”, Solangel explained. “Don’t worry I’ll warm you up…”, Jacob said taking her left breast into his mouth and rubbing her right with his left hand. He allowed his right to slide down her narrow torso and start working on unbuttoning her jeans. Solangel moaned a little wanting nothing more than to free her arms and get to touch him, to start removing his clothes, but she chose to play along being restrained did have an added affect on her libido. Jacob paused moving his mouth to her other breast and his hand wandering down to help the other start to slide down her pants. He kissed lower, still nibbling some to the top of her pants before grasping her pants firmly and pulling them off her to add to the pile on the floor. “You know what we are missing?”, Solangel asked trying to maintain some amount of focus as he kissed her stomach and his hands meandered over her legs. He paused in his kissing to look up from her navel to her. “And what’s that?”, he asked. His right hand slid up higher on her leg and maneuvered under the edge of her red lace panties starting to toy with her as he waited for an answer. Solangel let out another moan her legs moving slightly at the touch. “Candles…”, she said quietly as suddenly the room filled with various height candles all a glow. “And maybe something tasty…”, she said opening her eyes to look down her body at him. She liked how the light of the candles danced in his eyes. “I dunno..”, he said pausing for affect as he watched her hips rise up against his fingers. Something about having that kind of control over someone who could control anything in the world made him feel a bit powerful. “I’d say you are rather tasty on your own..”, he teased as he nibbled at her stomach again before taking the edge of her panties between his teeth.

Solangel ran her tongue along her bottom lip in an effort to hold back a moan but it still escaped. “No ripping these, their new..”, Solangel warned feeling the slight tug of her panties and looking down to see them in his teeth. Jacob just flashed her a smile, the red fabric still clutched between his teeth. Solangel was about to laugh at him but he pressed his fingers a little deeper and instead she let her head lay back on the pillow and her eyes close at the sensation. Jacob found it amusing that as he brought down her panties with his teeth he had to take back his hand and he saw a small pout on her lips. He took the red lace panties from his mouth and tossed them aside taking a moment to admire his handy work. Her slender arms above her head cuffed to the rails of their bed, his eyes wandered watching the light of the candles she’d created from nothing flicker over her light chocolate flesh. He smiled thinking about how she liked to be called by the nickname ‘Brownie’ and looking at the flames dancing on her skin he was reminded of watching brownies being cooked in an oven. Solangel lifted her head and raised an eyebrow at him. “And what are you doing now?”, she asked. “Just enjoying the view..”, Jacob explained. Solangel laughed a little shaking her head. She’d given up arguing that her naked wasn’t much of a view years ago because Jacob always argued back something about ‘eyes of the beholder’.

Jacob knelt at the end of the bed between her legs let his hands wander up her legs while his mouth trailed along behind kissing and occasionally nibbling as he got higher. He gripped her legs as she started to wiggle as she typically did finding the touch a cross between pleasure and tickling. He even heard her giggle a little but the giggle turned into more a moan as he got further up to the inside of her thighs. “No more teasing…please..”, Solangel asked her voice barely a whisper. “Oh really. What if I’m enjoying myself? And what would you prefer I do instead?”, Jacob asked between kisses. Solangel’s legs squeezed him a little. “You know what I want.”, Solangel stated. Jacob laughed softly. “You’ll have to remind me. Having a hard time thinking down here. So many distractions….”, he answered as his mouth moved to its destination his tongue sliding out to explore her womanhood. Solangel bit down on her lip letting the sensation rush over her, her legs squeezing his sides again. “That’s not…really what I meant…it’s nice. I’ll give you that…but I want a different part of you in me than your tongue.”, Solangel replied. “And I don’t mean fingers…”, she added. Jacob pulled back to look up at her with a smirk before running his tongue along his lips. “Told you I didn’t need anything tastier than you..”, he teased knowing talking like that had a mix effect on her between embarrassment and being turned on. Solangel sighed shaking her head trying to fight off the embarrassment of that statement but feeling a flush on her face and mentally thanking god for her dark complexion to hide it.

Jacob knew from the sigh and how she was shaking her head the statement had indeed embarrassed her. “You’re incorrigible.”, Solangel stated smiling. Jacob smiled back and shrugged. “This is true.”, he admitted sitting up to a kneeling position between her legs. Solangel moved her leg to rub along his sides. “So…you’re rather over dressed for the festivities.”, Solangel commented looking him over. “This is true. Am I being asked to strip?”, Jacob asked playfully. Solangel shrugged grinning. “Less of a request and more a demand. Or did I not make it abundantly clear…”, Solangel replied rubbing her legs against his sides again. “That I’d like to get laid now..”, she finished. Jacob nodded and climbed off the bed. “I suppose I could oblige your ‘demand’.”, Jacob stated grabbing the bottom of his maroon t-shirt. Solangel adjusted her arms just enough and grabbed the cuffs to sit up slightly moving the cuffs up the bars of the headboard to get a view. “Comfy?”, Jacob asked. Solangel scowled playfully. “Not really but not the best angel to watch this laying flat on the bed. Now carry on…”, Solangel replied. Jacob laughed a little shaking his head it now being his turn to be embarrassed as she watched him so closely.

To drag the process out Jacob made sure to slowly pull up his shirt and held back any laughter when Solangel whistled as he dropped his shirt to the floor. “Very nice. Now let’s get to the good stuff.”, Solangel teased. Jacob smiled and shook his head at her while unhooking his belt then unbuttoning and unzipping his pants. Solangel smiled raising an eyebrow and leaning forward a little for a better view as the pants fell from his waist to the floor leaving just a pair of navy boxer briefs with a sizable bulge trying to escape the front. “That a banana in your boxers or you just happy to see me?”, Solangel teased. “Let’s find out…though I’m sure it’s the latter.”, Jacob replied as he lowered his boxer briefs and stepped out of them. “Well it’s not a banana.”, Jacob stated getting onto the bed again. He grabbed her waist and brought her back down to the bed, before moving on top of her. Solangel smiled up at him, her hips already rising up in anticipation, a lock of her blue hair falling across her face. Jacob moved the hair away from her face before kissing her his tongue pressing against her lips demanding entrance. Solangel granted the entrance opening her mouth allowing their tongues to mingle. And not looking to extend the wait any longer, for either of them, thrusted deep inside her enjoying the moan she made into his mouth and the sound of her clutching the chain of the cuffs. Jacob set the rhythm and Solangel followed mentally reminding herself to not alter the cuffs despite how much she wanted to wrap her arms around him and clutch his back and shoulders as waves of pleasure hit her. And so they continued till neither could hold back and reached their climax.

Over at the Draven the DJ was still playing and kids were still dancing and smiling having a good time. But in one booth were the solemn and worried faces of Xavier, Blaire, Bianca, Gabriel, Hope, and Rachel. Only Rachel had he slightest clue why the others had raced out as they did, but she couldn’t tell the others that they were running off to possible doom. But still with the group departing so quickly the others began to worry about what was happening. Blaire even refused to dance with some of the boys who’d come over, she was too worried about her cousins to enjoy herself. Xavier’s hands looked like if he rubbed them together anymore the skin would start to ware as he worried about his aunt Rose and Ashley. Sure Rose was his grandfather’s biological child so it was likely she had a healing factor, but it’d never been put to any real test beyond she couldn’t maintain piercings. Rachel continued to just spin her bracelet as she worried about them all, but mostly Landon having been told about Atif’s vision and fearful that tonight was the night.

But the worry emanating from that booth was nothing compared to the back office. In the back of the club Morpheus was perched in a rafter looking down feeling himself getting dizzy as he watched the adults pacing. David, Mikali, and Demitri hadn’t stopped pacing in the office since after the kids left. Somehow they managed to pace in a pattern that they never ran into each other as they kept looking at their hands, their phones and then clock just hoping for some word about the kids. Annai, Jean and Aislinn had taken up chairs and fretted. Annai didn’t have a child out there, but still these kids were putting themselves in danger over something she’d rather have forgotten happened. The memories of her torture at Pyro’s hands still haunted her, she couldn’t imagine how these kids would take knowing all that had transpired back then. Annai kept looking to Aislinn who was visibly shaking with her worry. Which was understandable not only were her two children out there, but Aislinn had cared for all the kids as they grew. Jean reached over taking Aislinn’s hand hoping to ease her slightly. “They’ll come back. They’ll be alright.”, Jean said hoping to clam not just Aislinn but herself.

Lily pulled the van to a sudden stop outside of the club. “Alright everyone inside. We need to find Mikali.”, Lily stated jumping out of the car. The others started to pile out and stand on the sidewalk. Cora Lee carefully got out and started to tug her brother out behind her. Atif rushed over to help grabbing Landon’s left arm and slinging it over his shoulder. “Hold on Landon. Mikali is just inside. Just stay awake.”, Atif urged. Landon grunted his eyes partially open to look at Atif and nod. Rose and Ashley opened the doors and held them for the others to get in. hearing the door open and feeling the rush of cold air the others at the booth turned. Xavier rose to his feet seeing Rose and Ashley safe. Rachel’s heart skipped a beat waiting to see the others, waiting to see Landon. Lily was the first to come in followed by of all people Billy and Tommy Maximoff. A sight that confused everyone at the booth as they looked on. The group started to get up from the booth, Rachel pushed past Gabriel as she started to rush for the door. Lily was looking around for David, Demitri or Mikali. When she saw the office door shut she knew where to go and waved for Cora Lee and Atif to come in. Rachel stopped mid-stride as she saw Cora Lee and Atif carrying Landon in, his face was so pale and she could just make out something red on his hands. “Landon…”, she whispered covering her mouth.

Xavier moved past his cousin to Ashley who was closing the door and pulled her into a hug. “I was so worried you weren’t coming back…”, Xavier admitted. Ashley sighed a little feeling Xavier’s arms around her. “I’m alright….I think. We just gotta find Mikali.”, Ashley said. Rose closed the other door and watched Lily rush to the office door and push it open. David, Demitri and Mikali stopped in their tracks and their wives all rose at the sound of the door opening. “Lily!”, Demitri yelled moving to the door and grabbing his little sister into a hug. “I was so worried about you. Never scare me like this again.”, Demitri ordered squeezing her tight. “Umm..alright. Just let go. We need Mikali.”, Lily said feeling short of breath at how tight she was being squeezed. She looked over her shoulder. “Bring him in.”, Lily called. Cora Lee and Atif carefully brought Landon into the office and slumped him into a chair. Landon grunted a little at the action. Aislinn’s mouth opened to say something but looking at Landon the words escaped her. Lily managed to free herself from her brother and close the door. Mikali closed the gap and was kneeling in front of Landon. Mikali grabbed Landon’s hands carefully and unwrapped them to see the deep cuts. “What the hell did you kids do tonight?”, Mikali asked as he took Landon’s hands a golden glow forming and transferring to Landon. The cuts closed up and some color returned to Landon’s face. “We found the truth.”, Landon said weakly.

Atif, Cora Lee and Lily all let out sighs of relief. David came closer and gently grabbed Cora Lee’s shoulder and pulled her close hugging her. “Why do I have to have kids that do stupid dangerous thing?”, David questioned looking from Cora Lee to Landon. Cora Lee laughed a little and hugged her dad. “Genetics dad.”, she stated simply. Aislinn sat down next to Landon and took hold of his hand, Morpheus swooped down to sit on Landon’s lap looking up at him his head cocked to the side. “Lan-don.”, Morpheus cawed. “What do you mean the truth?”, Jean asked. Landon sighed a little and lifted his head and looking around the room. He looked at his team first. “Go let the others know I’m alright. I don’t want them to worry. Tell Tommy and Billy thanks and let them know it’ll take more than Wanda to bring my stubborn ass down.”, Landon said a smirk on his lips. Lily shook her head a small tear in her eyes. “You are crazy cuz.”, Lily said heading for the door. Cora Lee wasn’t sure about leaving. “Go on Cora Lee. Rose is going to need assurance I’m not actually dead.”, Landon encouraged. Cora Lee nodded and let go of her dad and followed Lily to the door. Atif stayed for a moment and held Landon’s shoulder in his hand closing his eyes. “It’s alright Atif. Go be with Billy.”, Landon said not even realizing that behind Atif’s eyelids a white light glowed. Atif let out a heavy sigh and opened his eyes not happy with what he’d seen. But he nodded and did as requested and followed the girls back to the main part of the club.

“What do you mean Wanda?!”, Aislinn asked as the door closed. Landon sighed sitting up and looked at the adults remaining in the room. “So guess it’s story time huh?”, Landon said smiling. David narrowed his eyes. “Start talking because we have been worried sick about you kids.”, David instructed. “Well it started with the fact we got a mission assigned to us by a high level x-men.”, Landon stated. Jean raised an eyebrow. “And who might that have been?”, she questioned. “James Logan Howlett aka Wolverine, Aunt Jean.”, Landon replied casually. Everyone blinked in disbelief sucking in a gasp of shock. Landon smiled again. “Logan’s dead.”, Jean stated finally. “Billy Maximoff saw him tonight here in the club while having some…private time with Atif. Logan never died. He was sent to a limbo dimension that shadows ours. He could see and hear everything over the last fifteen years we just couldn’t see or hear him. Logan told Billy that because he has powers like his mother he could free him. He instructed that we should go to the institute and find a danger room session from the night of the attack under Tanner’s codename then take that to his brother John who’d tell us the truth.”, Landon explained. “John told you kids the truth?”, Mikali questioned not believing anything would sway John Howlett from keeping his word to never speak the truth of that night and the weeks that followed. “Well I guess showing up with footage showing Pyro attacking the institute, taking Sadria hostage and killing Tanner on top of the prospect of his brother being returned to him got him to go against Duncan’s gag order.”, Landon stated. Annai took hold of Mikali’s hand holding it tight at the name Pyro.

“An how much did he tell you?”, Demitri asked. “Everything, Uncle Demitri. Pyro and soldiers took on the institute killing and taking hostages as they saw fit, Kim attacked Logan and Aurelia with soldiers taking Logan, Christian went after Uncle Mikali and Aunt Annai taking them both, Adien and Blake tried to get Kurt and Aunt Isis but failed, and soldiers took Warren. I know that people were tortured. I know that the Delaney brothers were called into service and the eldest Darren refused to torture mutants and was beheaded so Azriel and Colby turned spy for the X-Men. I know that Adien and Blake in a foolish attempt to get the Haven on the Acolytes side had the balls to take mom. And that the whole time they had mom Kim and Christian knew where she was but never told you guys. I know that’s why you stopped talking to her even though she doesn’t remember what she did. Teams were sent to take on the Acolytes and rescue the hostages. And in the end the Acolytes were losing, so Wanda changed reality and Aunt Solangel countered it enough that you all remembered the events. The combination of the direct hit from Wanda to the chest and the shock wave from Aunt Solangel to the back caused a rip in time and sent Logan there. Did I miss anything?”, Landon recapped then looked to the adults. “No you got the details then. So what exactly do Speed and Wiccan have to do with this? What happened tonight? And what about Wanda?”, David questioned. “Their names are Tommy and Billy and they are going to be moving into the Haven taking mine and Nate’s old room tonight.”, Landon corrected to some confused looks. “What are you talking about move to the Haven? Who said I was agreeing to that?”, David asked folding his arms.

“Didn’t say you were agreeing to it dad. You just don’t get a choice. Haven law states any mutant seeking refuge and claiming sanctuary cannot be refused. They risked their lives for me and my team tonight. They were disowned for helping us and for loving people their mother didn’t think they should.”, Landon argued. “Wait what?”, Jean asked shaking her head. Landon took a deep breath. “Billy had to do the spell to free Logan. Tommy stole Wanda’s spell book for it. Billy did the spell tapping into Aunt Solangel’s power, yes we got her to help us, and Rose. Atif protected them with a shield and the rest of us faced Wanda. Tommy tackled his mom to protect Atif because Billy is in love with Atif. Tommy agreed to help us in the first place because he’s in love with Lily. I know it’s weird I’m over it, so moving on. Aurelia helped as she could during the fight. Wanda came at me with a blade, thus the cuts on my hands.”, Landon explained. “Wait what? Wanda got close enough to my son with a knife? She got past my daughter with a knife?”, David exclaimed. “I know. I don’t know how did it, but she did. I used a lot of my power an changed the knife into day lilies. Then Cora Lee and Lily were able to hold her back. Ashley used my tie to bandage my hands.”, Landon explained. “You changed a knife, a inorganic thing into something organic?”, Demitri asked. Landon nodded. “I said it took everything I had to do it. But Wanda didn’t stay down. She knocked everyone down, I took a hit to the back to protect Ashley. Aurelia got involved and dragged Wanda away. Didn’t last because Wanda came back and tried to take out Atif to get past his shield.”, Landon explained. “And?”, Annia asked. “I stepped in the way.”, Landon said with a shrug.

“You did what?”, Aislinn asked hitting his arm. “I couldn’t let her kill Atif mom. He’s my best friend and if he went down that would leave Aunt Solangel, Billy and Rose vulnerable. So I didn’t think I just acted and put myself between her and them. I’m obviously alive.”, Landon pointed out rubbing his arm. “And how exactly did you manage to survive an attack from Scarlet Witch?”, Jean asked. Landon smiled. “Logan. The spell had completed and he appeared behind Wanda claws drawn and threatened to expose her spine and take his revenge if she let her hex ball loose at me.”, Landon said smiling. “So he’s back?!”, Mikali asked. Landon nodded. “Where is he?”, Annai asked. “My guess? Somewhere between the park and the pub having lots of sex with Aurelia.”, Landon said simply. “That sounds like Logan..”, Jean said shaking her head. “You do understand what you’ve done right?”, Demitri asked. Landon nodded. “Yes. I found the truth. I did what was right. And come the time Duncan is told I’ll be telling him exactly what I’ve told you. I’m the leader, weather I like it or not, and I’ll take the blame. I don’t think this will start a war. Wanda wouldn’t want that. Exposing the truth to her people will show them that she’d lied and manipulated their memories. I doubt she wants a revolt in her own ranks. But know this, Lily and I have every intention of going to Kim. She deserves to know why she’s been written off. How something she did fifteen years ago but doesn’t remember has been held against her all these years. Then she can make her own decision on what she wants to do.”, Landon said standing up. “Now, if you’ll excuse me there are some worried people outside I should talk to and maybe I’ll finish the gig.”, Landon stated stretching and heading for the door to leave the adults alone to think about what had just happened.

While Landon was telling the adults what had happened the other kids were outside wanting to know what went down too. “So what happened?”, Blaire asked looking from Ashley to Rose. But Rose and Ashley were keeping their eyes on the office door waiting to know if Landon would be alright. Tommy and Billy just stood off to the side feeling rather out of place amongst the institute kids without Lily and Atif there. Rachel watched the door, spinning her bracelet as she did. She felt her heart skip a beat again as the door opened but return to normal as Lily, Cora Lee and Atif walked out. “So? How is he?”, Rose asked. “He’s fine. Uncle Mikali healed him. He’s in there explaining to the adults what happened.”, Cora Lee explained walking over. Lily looked to Tommy and smiled walking over and hugging him before tugging him closer to the group. Atif took Billy’s hand and brought him over too. “Landon said to thank you two and tell you it’ll take more than Wanda to bring him down.”, Lily said with a smile. Tommy shook his head. “You’re cousin is insane, you know that right.”, Billy stated looking to Lily. The rest laughed. “That’s Landon.”, Atif stated. “So he’s alright?”, Rachel asked wanting to just reconfirm. Atif nodded. “Yes. He’s alright. Mikali healed him before he lost too much blood.”, Atif explained. “Alright so will someone please tell the rest of us inquiring minds what happened? Why you all left like that?”, Blaire asked again. “You tell them, Rose.”, Atif suggested. The others turned to look to Rose. “Well…um. Long story short we found out my dad is alive and there was a way to bring him out of the limbo he’d been in. So we teamed up with Tommy and Billy here, faced Scarlet Witch, and got my dad back.”, Rose explained. Everyone blinked event hat short synopsis was shocking. “Gran..grandfather is alive? Where is he?”, Xavier questioned. “Yes he’s alive and he’s back. His with mom doing things I think we are best not to think about…”, Rose answered.

Xavier turned his attention to Tommy and Billy, bring his arms from around Ashley and walked over to them. He brought his hands up one palm flat and the other in a fist facing each other and bowed to them. “Thank you. Thank you both. You don’t know what this means to our family to have him back.”, Xavier said. Tommy raised an eyebrow and looked to Billy who shrugged. “You’re welcome..”, they said uncertain. Rachel decided to try and not focus on what was going on beyond the door, though she thought maybe him surviving tonight meant the vision was over. In the back of her mind she mulled over telling him how she feels. She turned to Tommy and Billy and smiled hugging each of them. “Thank you so much for helping bring my Uncle back. My family is going to be so happy to have him home.”, Rachel said. Tommy and Billy exchanged confused looks about the hugs. Lily laughed and shook her head. “You two might want to get used to hugs. Because these probably aren’t the last of the Howlett family that is going to hug you for what you did tonight. And moving to the Haven Aislinn is a hugger too.”, Lily warned. “This will take adjusting…”, Billy said but smiled. The others moved closer to Tommy and Billy. “So you two really helped them bring back Logan and take on your own mother?”, Blaire asked bluntly. Tommy nodded. “Yeah. Billy did the spell to bring Wolverine back and I helped the others fend off our mom. Though really your leader, Landon…that boy’s grade A hero material.”, Tommy stated with a laugh. Billy nodded. “Seeing him in action it’s actual apparent why you all follow him and why our mom fears him coming to power in the X-Men.”, Billy agreed. “So how did Landon get hurt?”, Bianca asked. “Our mom. She loves her boot knife. She managed to pin him to a tree and well he grabbed the blade but…”, Tommy said reaching into his pocket pulling out the half dozen of blood stained yellow daylilies. “He did one hell of a trick that even startled my mom. These used to be her knife.”, Tommy said holding up the flowers. There was a slight gasp, though Cora Lee looked down in shame thinking about how she let Wanda get that close to Landon with a knife. “Interesting choice of flower….”, Blaire commented discreetly elbowing Rachel. Billy sighed and took the flowers from his twin turning them in his hand. “I still don’t know how he was able to do this. His powers have limits to organic material. Plus…”, Billy said still looking at the flowers then smiled. “That’s the loophole.”, Billy stated

“What’s the loophole?”, Landon asked stepping out of the office. Everyone’s attention turned to Landon, without thinking Rachel pushed through the group and hugged him. “I was so worried…”, she said in almost a whisper burying her face into his chest. Landon grunted a little at the sudden hug but returned it. “I’m alright Rachel. I told you no fear and no worries.”, Landon stated. “So what’s this about loopholes?”, Landon asked. Rose watched her cousin rush to Landon and hug him and wished she’d thought of it, though after kissing him and getting no response she was certain that ship had not only sailed but had only been a dream. But there was part of her that was jealous that he was hugging Rachel. Rachel nodded and let go of him now suddenly embarrassed by her sudden action. Blaire noticed Rachel’s embarrassment and decided to ease it by going over to Landon and hugging him too. Hope and Bianca followed suit and the three hugged him. “Alright, I am feeling the love…hey watch the hands Blaire.”, Landon said playfully even though Blaire’s hands didn’t move below his waist. Blaire chuckled as she, Hope and Bianca let him go. “Don’t worry you aren’t my type Landon.”, Blaire said sticking her tongue out. “Now someone tell me about the darn loophole.”, Landon repeated looking to Billy. Billy tossed the flowers to Landon who caught them. “My mom’s knife. I know how she got it past your sister and how you were able to change something traditionally inorganic. My mom casted a spell on the knife to hide it, disguise it but not like an illusion but at the atomic level. She knew your sister is a metal manipulator like your father and our grandfather. So she made it no longer feel like metal. And because it was no longer technically metal you were able to alter it to those flowers.”, Billy explained. Landon turned the flowers in his hand and shrugged. “Interesting. Definitely explains it, still took a lot of my energy to do. But alright so I’ve filled our parents in on what went down and that Tommy and Billy are moving into my old room at the Haven. So we have a couple choices. We either stay, maybe finish the gig, or we go home and pass the fuck out.”, Landon stated looking over the group.

“I say you guys celebrate. You saved Logan, lived, and it’s new years!”, Blaire suggested. Ashley nodded. “Yeah let’s celebrate guys then we can go pass out from our exhaustion.”, Ashley agreed taking Xavier’s hand and heading to the dance floor. Gabriel offered his hand out to Bianca who accepted and then headed for the dance floor. Tommy thought for a moment. “Wait. Holy shit I can dance with you and it not start some stupid fight. SWEET.”, Tommy said grabbing Lily’s hand and tugging her to the dance floor to dance with him. “Come on Hope, let’s find people to dance with too.”, Blaire suggested hooking arms with Hope as they headed to the floor to find people to dance with. Hope looking to find Jamie to dance with again having felt bad for cutting their dancing short when she saw the others race out of the club. “Come on Atif let’s go dance.”, Billy suggested. “Um give me just a minute. I need to talk to Landon.”, Atif said letting Billy’s hand go and grabbing Landon’s wrist pulling him away from the others. Cora Lee sighed and looked to Rose. “So think we should go back to the stage?”, Cora Lee asked. Rose nodded. “Yeah when Atif’s done talking to your brother I’m sure he’ll want to go play.”, Rose said and the two headed for the stage. Rachel stood there uneasy wondering what Atif could need to talk to Landon about, not knowing Billy was wondering the same thing.

“What’s up?”, Landon asked looking past Atif watching Rose walked to the stage with Cora Lee. He’d survived the fight with Wanda and about now he wanted to make up for his lack of reaction when Rose kissed him at the park. Though as he thought about that his eyes landed on Rachel who was spinning the bracelet and he found himself torn about what he wanted to know with this new found ‘life’. “The vision. I had it again when we were in the office. It’s not over with Wanda. She’s going to come after you again and just like before I still see you fall.”, Atif said his voice just loud enough to be heard over the music from the DJ. “What? Seriously? God fucking damn it. And there goes my plans…at least now I know it’s Wanda. I can train for it and be ready for her. I’m not going to let her take me down.”, Landon said patting Atif on the shoulder. “Now go dance with Billy before he thinks you’re over here trying to get with me.”, Landon teased shoving Atif. Atif sighed shaking his head but went to Billy and took his hand and went to the dance floor. Landon let out an exasperated sigh and turned punching a wooden post in frustration. “Fucking damn it..”, Landon grumbled. Rachel watched him hit the post and walked over concerned. “Landon? What’s wrong? What did Atif talk to you about?”, Rachel asked spinning the bracelet. Landon sighed turning to look at her he shook his head looking at her spinning the bracelet. He reached out and covered her hand with his to stop her. “Thought I told you that you’ll hurt yourself spinning it like that. Don’t make me regret making it for you.”, Landon said. Rachel smiled softly taking her hand from the bracelet and taking hold of his hand instead looking over where she’d known the wound had been.

“So…”, she said looking up at him. “You going to tell me what Atif said that go you to angry you punched a post?”, Rachel asked. “You’re not going to like it. And I don’t want to worry you any more than I have tonight.”, Landon said forcing a smile. “Don’t ever fake a smile with me Landon. You are always honest, at least with me. So be honest. What did Atif say?”, Rachel asked reaching up to touch the side of his face with her other hand. Landon sighed not sure if he should be honest again. Last time he told her all it did was cause her to worry. But feeling her hand on the side of his face and looking into her eyes it was hard to not just tell her. Then in his mind he was also thinking to the last time a Howlett girl placed her hands on his face, he’d been given a rather forceful kiss on the lips. “The vision hasn’t changed. Your Uncle stepping in tonight to save me didn’t change it, just delayed it. So my fight with Wanda isn’t over.”, Landon stated. Rachel froze for a moment, so it wasn’t over which meant she couldn’t tell him how she felt. She nodded. “Alright so what do you do now?”, Rachel asked. “I train and get ready to face her again.”, Landon answered. Rachel nodded looking down. “Hey…”, Landon said putting his hand under her chin to raise her face to look at him. “Don’t do that. You wanted the truth and I’ve given that to you but don’t do the pout thing. Please? It’s New Years and your Uncle is home safe it’s a time to celebrate not to frown.”, Landon said before kissing her cheek. “Happy New Year Rachel.”, he stated with a real smile this time. Rachel sighed inwardly as he lifted her chin, in a perfect world more a kin to a day dream that moment felt like one he’d have kissed her lips in but this was reality and instead he kissed her cheek. Rachel nodded. “Alright. Happy New Year, Landon.”, She said leaning up and kissing his cheek before taking her hand away and taking her hand from his. “Guess we should go celebrate the huh? Rose and Cora Lee headed for the stage, guess you guys are going to play some more.”, Rachel said starting to walk away. “Yeah…that’s a good plan.”, Landon said. “I’m gonna grab Uncle Demtiri, there’s a song I want to play that I can’t sing and drum for.”, Landon said thinking for a moment what he wanted to start with. Rachel nodded and headed back to the dance floor. Landon leaned into the office the adults all talking about what they were going to do now that the secret was out but went silent when the door opened.

“Oh go on talking, not like there’s much secrets left to keep. I won’t be long anyways. We are going to play some more songs before we take Tommy and Billy to the Haven and then crash. But I need Uncle Demitri to drum at least for one song.”, Landon said pointing to Demitri. Demitri shrugged. “Alright fine, I’ll drum.”, Demitri said getting up and following Landon out. “You realize how scared your parents are right now?”, Demitri asked as they walked to the stage. “I could wager a guess. And I’d guess more than I am.”, Landon stated with a smile walking up to Rose and Cora Lee with Demitri. “So we playing? What’s with Uncle Demitri?”, Cora Lee asked. “Yeah we play. I want to start with ‘Take me to Church’ feeling moderately religious after seeing my life flash before my eyes.”, Landon said with a grin glancing to Rose. “Alright so Demitri’s drumming. Let’s do this then.”, Rose said. Demitri nodded and headed onto the stage picking up Landon’s sticks and sitting at the kit. It felt weird he hadn’t been on stage in so long after Chi Weapon stopped playing gigs because they grew up and became dads. Cora Lee headed up to the stage and grabbed her bass from its stand where she’d left it and put her mic back on. Rose went to head up the stairs but Landon grabbed her wrist. “Look, about what happened at the park with the kiss…”, Landon started to say. “Let’s not talk about that right now alright? Let’s just play some music.”, Rose said not wanting to hear the ‘I like you but not that way’ sentence she was sure Landon was going to say. Landon nodded. “Alright, another time then. But either way.”, Landon paused and kissed her cheek. “Happy New Year. Now let’s play some music.”, Landon said letting go of her wrist. “Happy New Year.”, Rose said quietly before getting onto the stage and getting her guitar and mic. Landon followed and got his mic and moved to the front of the stage and gave a nod to the DJ who stopped playing. The crowd turned to look at the stage.

Landon was sure they weren’t much to look at, their clothes messed up, torn and dirty from the fight. “HAPPY NEW YEAR Draven patrons! Sorry we took our break so early and bailed on you all. But we are back and ready to play a little music for you before we go home for the night. Joining us you’ll have noticed on drums is one of the club owners. Most of you just know him as Demtiri, florist and club owner. But some of you know him as more than that. Please welcome the drummer of Chi Weapon my Uncle Demitri Shadow!”, Landon said giving an introduction. Demitri gave a nod to the crowd with a smile. The crowd clapped just glad Meddling Kids was back. But the kids from the institute whistled and cheered at Demtiri’s introduction. “WOO CHI WEAPON!”, they shouted. Demitri shook his head and just twirled the sticks ready. Landon gave a nod and Rose, Demitri, and Cora Lee started to play. Landon nodded a little his head trying to focus on just the music and not think about the nights events or the vision Atif still saw. “My lovers got humor…”, Landon started signing with a smile. “She’s the giggle at a funeral. Knows everybody’s disapproval.”, he continued his eyes scanning the crowd then looked to his right at Rose as he sang the lines. “I should’ve worshiped her sooner. If the Heavens ever did speak…”, he said his eyes moving from Rose back to the crowd and stopping at Rachel who was just smiling enjoying the music. “She’s the last true mouth piece.”, he said before letting his eyes scan the crowd again. “Every Sundays’ getting more bleak. A fresh poison each week. ‘We were born sick’ you heard them say it. My church offers no absolution. She tells me ‘worship in the bedroom’. The only heaven I’ll be sent to. Is when I’m alone with you.”, his voice sang out his eyes glancing to Rose and then to Rachel. No one really noticed the movement of his eyes including Rose who was just focusing on playing her part of the song.

“I was born sick, but I love it. Command me to be well. Aaaaa…aaamen, aamen, amen.”,Landon said extending the notes and looking out into the crowd. “Take me to church! I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies. I’ll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife. Offer me that dealthless death.”, he sang being joined with Cora Lee and Rose. Landon’s eyes went to his group of friends for th elas line of the chorus. “Good God, let me give you my life.”, he sang with more meaning than the song probably intended. But given how just near an hour ago he was ready to give his life for his friends it seemed fitting. “If I’m a pagan of the good times. My lover’s the sunlight. To keep the goodness on my side. She demands a sacrifice. To drain the whole sea.”, Landon sang out alone moving around the stage now getting into the song more. “Get something shiny. Something meaty for the main course.”, he sang giving a smile to his sister at the ‘shiny’ line. “That’s a fine looking high horse. What you got in the stable? We’ve been starving faithful. That looks tasty. That looks plenty. This is huuuungry work!”,he continued to sing out to the crowd. He was joined again for the chorus. “Take me to church. I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies. I’ll you my sins and you can sharpen your knife. Offer me that dealthless death. Good Gooood, let me give you my life!”, they sang Landon looking from Cora Lee to Rose as the ‘give you my life’ line was sang again.

“No masters or kings when the ritual begins. There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin. In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene. Only then I am huuuman! Only then am I clean! Aaaaamen, Amen, Amen!”, Landon’s voice sang out clear and holding certain notes he felt important. And then it was to the final chorus. “Take me to church! I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies. I’ll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife. Offer me that dealthless death. GOOOOD GOD, let me give you my LIFE!”, Landon sang the final chorus alone dropping to his knees as he sang at the edge of the stage. The crowd loved it and how much emotion he put in it. His friends all for half a second worried he’d fallen for lack of strength after their battle. Which was half true. He pulled himself back to his feet and gave a little bow. Rose and Cora Lee looked to each other and then to Landon mouthing ‘are you okay?’ which he nodded and headed to his drums. “Thanks Uncle Demitri.”, Landon said holding out his hands for his sticks. Demitri nodded handing Landon the sticks getting up and heading off the stage. The band performed an additional half hour before any adrenaline they had from the fight was gone. “Thank you all for coming out tonight. That concludes our set for the night. Look forward to seeing you more here in 2023!”, Cora Lee said before setting down her bass and exiting the stage followed by Rose and Landon.

The others walked over to meet them off the stage, Rachel handed Landon, Rose, and Cora Lee each a sealed bottle of water figuring they’d want it. “Thanks.”, they said before guzzling the cold water. “So now what?”, Billy asked. Landon wiped some sweat from his brow and looked at everyone. “Well first I guess I take some people home and to the institute then get you two over to the Haven before I fall asleep.”, Landon stated. “Don’t worry about us younger kids. My dad is going to drive Blaire and Rachel to their houses then Hope, Bianca and I to the institute.”, Gabriel stated. “Alright so I just drive the others to the institute and Xavier home before taking Tommy and Billy to the Haven.”, Landon said. “Why don’t we all crash at the Haven? That way Tommy and Billy aren’t alone in a new place.”, Lily suggested. “I can get a ride with Gabriel if that makes it easier.”, Xavier suggested. Gabriel nodded. “Alright. So night guys we’ll see you later. Gang to the van. And Lily give me my keys. I can drive again and I felt sorry for everyone and specially the van with the way you drive.”, Landon said holding out his hand. Xavier gave Ashley a goodnight kiss and followed Gabriel and the others to wait for Warren. Lily gave up the keys and the followed him with the others out to the van and loaded up to head for the Haven. It’d been a long night and crashing in her old temporary room she’d shared with Cora Lee sounded amazing.

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Solangel had stumbled a little on her walk home, but the cold winter air was keeping her awake not to mention the thought of Jacob waiting for her at the Haven. She reached the front door and pushed it open as a gust of cold air followed behind her. There sitting on the stairs waiting was Jacob. He jumped to his feet and pulled her close hugging her tightly. “Hi…nice to see you too.”, Solangel said returning the hug happy to be back in his arms. “You scared the shit out of me! Do you know that!? You’re Angel! You never say ‘if’. You never doubt.”, Jacob said pulling back a little to look at her. “I’ve been trying over these years to adjust to knowing that I can’t always protect you from things, but I never want you to say if again.”, Jacob explained. Solangel nodded. “I won’t. Now I promised you full disclosure of the SMB. That where we start?”, Solangel asked. “You also promised me full nudity. I’ll take that first then if we aren’t too tired we can talk about the SMB.”, Jacob stated starting to take off Solangel’s jacket. Solangel chuckled a little and wigged out of her jacket letting it just fall near the coat closet. “Nudity it is then. Enjoy what little alone time we have.”, Solangel said grinning. She was fine with putting off telling him the details of what had happened fifteen years ago and her part in it all. She’d found extra energy at the idea of just losing herself in physical intimacy with him. She kicked off her boots assuming they’d be getting in the way. She giggled a little as he scooped her up off the ground and carried her up to their bedroom locking their door behind him.

The room was exactly as they’d left it, her hand cuffs attached to the bars of the headboard eagerly waiting to be clasped around someone’s wrists. Originally it was going to be Jacob cuffed to the bed and begging for Solangel’s mercy, at least that was her plan. But apparently having left him so abruptly and given the impression he may never see her again Jacob had decided to change the plans and laid Solangel down on the bed. Once he had her on the bed he took hold of her shirt and pulled it up and over her head. Taking advantage of the fact her arms were stretch up he clasped the cuffs around her wrists. Solangel tried to pull her arms down but heard the familiar clink of the cuffs. “Seriously? This is where you’re supposed to be not me.”, Solangel protested a laugh in her voice. Jacob smiled raising his brow at her. “Yep. That may have been the plan, but this time you aren’t going to be getting away from me. Door is locked and now you are locked up too.”, Jacob stated. “You know with just a word I could be out of these.”, She said tugging at the cuffs. “Oh I know, but I know you won’t do that. You enjoy being cuffed just as much as I do.”, Jacob said before starting to kiss along her neck, nibbling a little as he did. He continued to smile each time she squirmed with each nibble and kiss. He kissed down to the top of her bra reaching around her and unhooking it and tossing the strapless red bra to the side. Solangel shivered a little, still a bit cold from having walked home from the park. She didn’t have the body most guys wouldn’t find attractive. She was extremely thin, not helped by her height, despite her heritage she didn’t have much in the way of an ass, her hips were on the more narrow side and she certainly wouldn’t say she had much in the way of cleavage still sporting an A cup in her late 30s. The one benefit of her heritage she got was that she was aging gracefully and still looked in her 20s. She’d lucked out when she met Jacob that he wasn’t one of those ass or boob guys he was a personality guy.

He noticed the shiver started to run his hands along her torso. “You getting cold Angel?”, Jacob questioned playfully as nibbled at her hardened nipple. Solangel let out a ‘mmm’ as she still wiggled under his touch. “Just a little, was a long cold walk here.”, Solangel explained. “Don’t worry I’ll warm you up…”, Jacob said taking her left breast into his mouth and rubbing her right with his left hand. He allowed his right to slide down her narrow torso and start working on unbuttoning her jeans. Solangel moaned a little wanting nothing more than to free her arms and get to touch him, to start removing his clothes, but she chose to play along being restrained did have an added affect on her libido. Jacob paused moving his mouth to her other breast and his hand wandering down to help the other start to slide down her pants. He kissed lower, still nibbling some to the top of her pants before grasping her pants firmly and pulling them off her to add to the pile on the floor. “You know what we are missing?”, Solangel asked trying to maintain some amount of focus as he kissed her stomach and his hands meandered over her legs. He paused in his kissing to look up from her navel to her. “And what’s that?”, he asked. His right hand slid up higher on her leg and maneuvered under the edge of her red lace panties starting to toy with her as he waited for an answer. Solangel let out another moan her legs moving slightly at the touch. “Candles…”, she said quietly as suddenly the room filled with various height candles all a glow. “And maybe something tasty…”, she said opening her eyes to look down her body at him. She liked how the light of the candles danced in his eyes. “I dunno..”, he said pausing for affect as he watched her hips rise up against his fingers. Something about having that kind of control over someone who could control anything in the world made him feel a bit powerful. “I’d say you are rather tasty on your own..”, he teased as he nibbled at her stomach again before taking the edge of her panties between his teeth.

Solangel ran her tongue along her bottom lip in an effort to hold back a moan but it still escaped. “No ripping these, their new..”, Solangel warned feeling the slight tug of her panties and looking down to see them in his teeth. Jacob just flashed her a smile, the red fabric still clutched between his teeth. Solangel was about to laugh at him but he pressed his fingers a little deeper and instead she let her head lay back on the pillow and her eyes close at the sensation. Jacob found it amusing that as he brought down her panties with his teeth he had to take back his hand and he saw a small pout on her lips. He took the red lace panties from his mouth and tossed them aside taking a moment to admire his handy work. Her slender arms above her head cuffed to the rails of their bed, his eyes wandered watching the light of the candles she’d created from nothing flicker over her light chocolate flesh. He smiled thinking about how she liked to be called by the nickname ‘Brownie’ and looking at the flames dancing on her skin he was reminded of watching brownies being cooked in an oven. Solangel lifted her head and raised an eyebrow at him. “And what are you doing now?”, she asked. “Just enjoying the view..”, Jacob explained. Solangel laughed a little shaking her head. She’d given up arguing that her naked wasn’t much of a view years ago because Jacob always argued back something about ‘eyes of the beholder’.

Jacob knelt at the end of the bed between her legs let his hands wander up her legs while his mouth trailed along behind kissing and occasionally nibbling as he got higher. He gripped her legs as she started to wiggle as she typically did finding the touch a cross between pleasure and tickling. He even heard her giggle a little but the giggle turned into more a moan as he got further up to the inside of her thighs. “No more teasing…please..”, Solangel asked her voice barely a whisper. “Oh really. What if I’m enjoying myself? And what would you prefer I do instead?”, Jacob asked between kisses. Solangel’s legs squeezed him a little. “You know what I want.”, Solangel stated. Jacob laughed softly. “You’ll have to remind me. Having a hard time thinking down here. So many distractions….”, he answered as his mouth moved to its destination his tongue sliding out to explore her womanhood. Solangel bit down on her lip letting the sensation rush over her, her legs squeezing his sides again. “That’s not…really what I meant…it’s nice. I’ll give you that…but I want a different part of you in me than your tongue.”, Solangel replied. “And I don’t mean fingers…”, she added. Jacob pulled back to look up at her with a smirk before running his tongue along his lips. “Told you I didn’t need anything tastier than you..”, he teased knowing talking like that had a mix effect on her between embarrassment and being turned on. Solangel sighed shaking her head trying to fight off the embarrassment of that statement but feeling a flush on her face and mentally thanking god for her dark complexion to hide it.

Jacob knew from the sigh and how she was shaking her head the statement had indeed embarrassed her. “You’re incorrigible.”, Solangel stated smiling. Jacob smiled back and shrugged. “This is true.”, he admitted sitting up to a kneeling position between her legs. Solangel moved her leg to rub along his sides. “So…you’re rather over dressed for the festivities.”, Solangel commented looking him over. “This is true. Am I being asked to strip?”, Jacob asked playfully. Solangel shrugged grinning. “Less of a request and more a demand. Or did I not make it abundantly clear…”, Solangel replied rubbing her legs against his sides again. “That I’d like to get laid now..”, she finished. Jacob nodded and climbed off the bed. “I suppose I could oblige your ‘demand’.”, Jacob stated grabbing the bottom of his maroon t-shirt. Solangel adjusted her arms just enough and grabbed the cuffs to sit up slightly moving the cuffs up the bars of the headboard to get a view. “Comfy?”, Jacob asked. Solangel scowled playfully. “Not really but not the best angel to watch this laying flat on the bed. Now carry on…”, Solangel replied. Jacob laughed a little shaking his head it now being his turn to be embarrassed as she watched him so closely.

To drag the process out Jacob made sure to slowly pull up his shirt and held back any laughter when Solangel whistled as he dropped his shirt to the floor. “Very nice. Now let’s get to the good stuff.”, Solangel teased. Jacob smiled and shook his head at her while unhooking his belt then unbuttoning and unzipping his pants. Solangel smiled raising an eyebrow and leaning forward a little for a better view as the pants fell from his waist to the floor leaving just a pair of navy boxer briefs with a sizable bulge trying to escape the front. “That a banana in your boxers or you just happy to see me?”, Solangel teased. “Let’s find out…though I’m sure it’s the latter.”, Jacob replied as he lowered his boxer briefs and stepped out of them. “Well it’s not a banana.”, Jacob stated getting onto the bed again. He grabbed her waist and brought her back down to the bed, before moving on top of her. Solangel smiled up at him, her hips already rising up in anticipation, a lock of her blue hair falling across her face. Jacob moved the hair away from her face before kissing her his tongue pressing against her lips demanding entrance. Solangel granted the entrance opening her mouth allowing their tongues to mingle. And not looking to extend the wait any longer, for either of them, thrusted deep inside her enjoying the moan she made into his mouth and the sound of her clutching the chain of the cuffs. Jacob set the rhythm and Solangel followed mentally reminding herself to not alter the cuffs despite how much she wanted to wrap her arms around him and clutch his back and shoulders as waves of pleasure hit her. And so they continued till neither could hold back and reached their climax.

Over at the Draven the DJ was still playing and kids were still dancing and smiling having a good time. But in one booth were the solemn and worried faces of Xavier, Blaire, Bianca, Gabriel, Hope, and Rachel. Only Rachel had he slightest clue why the others had raced out as they did, but she couldn’t tell the others that they were running off to possible doom. But still with the group departing so quickly the others began to worry about what was happening. Blaire even refused to dance with some of the boys who’d come over, she was too worried about her cousins to enjoy herself. Xavier’s hands looked like if he rubbed them together anymore the skin would start to ware as he worried about his aunt Rose and Ashley. Sure Rose was his grandfather’s biological child so it was likely she had a healing factor, but it’d never been put to any real test beyond she couldn’t maintain piercings. Rachel continued to just spin her bracelet as she worried about them all, but mostly Landon having been told about Atif’s vision and fearful that tonight was the night.

But the worry emanating from that booth was nothing compared to the back office. In the back of the club Morpheus was perched in a rafter looking down feeling himself getting dizzy as he watched the adults pacing. David, Mikali, and Demitri hadn’t stopped pacing in the office since after the kids left. Somehow they managed to pace in a pattern that they never ran into each other as they kept looking at their hands, their phones and then clock just hoping for some word about the kids. Annai, Jean and Aislinn had taken up chairs and fretted. Annai didn’t have a child out there, but still these kids were putting themselves in danger over something she’d rather have forgotten happened. The memories of her torture at Pyro’s hands still haunted her, she couldn’t imagine how these kids would take knowing all that had transpired back then. Annai kept looking to Aislinn who was visibly shaking with her worry. Which was understandable not only were her two children out there, but Aislinn had cared for all the kids as they grew. Jean reached over taking Aislinn’s hand hoping to ease her slightly. “They’ll come back. They’ll be alright.”, Jean said hoping to clam not just Aislinn but herself.

Lily pulled the van to a sudden stop outside of the club. “Alright everyone inside. We need to find Mikali.”, Lily stated jumping out of the car. The others started to pile out and stand on the sidewalk. Cora Lee carefully got out and started to tug her brother out behind her. Atif rushed over to help grabbing Landon’s left arm and slinging it over his shoulder. “Hold on Landon. Mikali is just inside. Just stay awake.”, Atif urged. Landon grunted his eyes partially open to look at Atif and nod. Rose and Ashley opened the doors and held them for the others to get in. hearing the door open and feeling the rush of cold air the others at the booth turned. Xavier rose to his feet seeing Rose and Ashley safe. Rachel’s heart skipped a beat waiting to see the others, waiting to see Landon. Lily was the first to come in followed by of all people Billy and Tommy Maximoff. A sight that confused everyone at the booth as they looked on. The group started to get up from the booth, Rachel pushed past Gabriel as she started to rush for the door. Lily was looking around for David, Demitri or Mikali. When she saw the office door shut she knew where to go and waved for Cora Lee and Atif to come in. Rachel stopped mid-stride as she saw Cora Lee and Atif carrying Landon in, his face was so pale and she could just make out something red on his hands. “Landon…”, she whispered covering her mouth.

Xavier moved past his cousin to Ashley who was closing the door and pulled her into a hug. “I was so worried you weren’t coming back…”, Xavier admitted. Ashley sighed a little feeling Xavier’s arms around her. “I’m alright….I think. We just gotta find Mikali.”, Ashley said. Rose closed the other door and watched Lily rush to the office door and push it open. David, Demitri and Mikali stopped in their tracks and their wives all rose at the sound of the door opening. “Lily!”, Demitri yelled moving to the door and grabbing his little sister into a hug. “I was so worried about you. Never scare me like this again.”, Demitri ordered squeezing her tight. “Umm..alright. Just let go. We need Mikali.”, Lily said feeling short of breath at how tight she was being squeezed. She looked over her shoulder. “Bring him in.”, Lily called. Cora Lee and Atif carefully brought Landon into the office and slumped him into a chair. Landon grunted a little at the action. Aislinn’s mouth opened to say something but looking at Landon the words escaped her. Lily managed to free herself from her brother and close the door. Mikali closed the gap and was kneeling in front of Landon. Mikali grabbed Landon’s hands carefully and unwrapped them to see the deep cuts. “What the hell did you kids do tonight?”, Mikali asked as he took Landon’s hands a golden glow forming and transferring to Landon. The cuts closed up and some color returned to Landon’s face. “We found the truth.”, Landon said weakly.

Atif, Cora Lee and Lily all let out sighs of relief. David came closer and gently grabbed Cora Lee’s shoulder and pulled her close hugging her. “Why do I have to have kids that do stupid dangerous thing?”, David questioned looking from Cora Lee to Landon. Cora Lee laughed a little and hugged her dad. “Genetics dad.”, she stated simply. Aislinn sat down next to Landon and took hold of his hand, Morpheus swooped down to sit on Landon’s lap looking up at him his head cocked to the side. “Lan-don.”, Morpheus cawed. “What do you mean the truth?”, Jean asked. Landon sighed a little and lifted his head and looking around the room. He looked at his team first. “Go let the others know I’m alright. I don’t want them to worry. Tell Tommy and Billy thanks and let them know it’ll take more than Wanda to bring my stubborn ass down.”, Landon said a smirk on his lips. Lily shook her head a small tear in her eyes. “You are crazy cuz.”, Lily said heading for the door. Cora Lee wasn’t sure about leaving. “Go on Cora Lee. Rose is going to need assurance I’m not actually dead.”, Landon encouraged. Cora Lee nodded and let go of her dad and followed Lily to the door. Atif stayed for a moment and held Landon’s shoulder in his hand closing his eyes. “It’s alright Atif. Go be with Billy.”, Landon said not even realizing that behind Atif’s eyelids a white light glowed. Atif let out a heavy sigh and opened his eyes not happy with what he’d seen. But he nodded and did as requested and followed the girls back to the main part of the club.

“What do you mean Wanda?!”, Aislinn asked as the door closed. Landon sighed sitting up and looked at the adults remaining in the room. “So guess it’s story time huh?”, Landon said smiling. David narrowed his eyes. “Start talking because we have been worried sick about you kids.”, David instructed. “Well it started with the fact we got a mission assigned to us by a high level x-men.”, Landon stated. Jean raised an eyebrow. “And who might that have been?”, she questioned. “James Logan Howlett aka Wolverine, Aunt Jean.”, Landon replied casually. Everyone blinked in disbelief sucking in a gasp of shock. Landon smiled again. “Logan’s dead.”, Jean stated finally. “Billy Maximoff saw him tonight here in the club while having some…private time with Atif. Logan never died. He was sent to a limbo dimension that shadows ours. He could see and hear everything over the last fifteen years we just couldn’t see or hear him. Logan told Billy that because he has powers like his mother he could free him. He instructed that we should go to the institute and find a danger room session from the night of the attack under Tanner’s codename then take that to his brother John who’d tell us the truth.”, Landon explained. “John told you kids the truth?”, Mikali questioned not believing anything would sway John Howlett from keeping his word to never speak the truth of that night and the weeks that followed. “Well I guess showing up with footage showing Pyro attacking the institute, taking Sadria hostage and killing Tanner on top of the prospect of his brother being returned to him got him to go against Duncan’s gag order.”, Landon stated. Annai took hold of Mikali’s hand holding it tight at the name Pyro.

“An how much did he tell you?”, Demitri asked. “Everything, Uncle Demitri. Pyro and soldiers took on the institute killing and taking hostages as they saw fit, Kim attacked Logan and Aurelia with soldiers taking Logan, Christian went after Uncle Mikali and Aunt Annai taking them both, Adien and Blake tried to get Kurt and Aunt Isis but failed, and soldiers took Warren. I know that people were tortured. I know that the Delaney brothers were called into service and the eldest Darren refused to torture mutants and was beheaded so Azriel and Colby turned spy for the X-Men. I know that Adien and Blake in a foolish attempt to get the Haven on the Acolytes side had the balls to take mom. And that the whole time they had mom Kim and Christian knew where she was but never told you guys. I know that’s why you stopped talking to her even though she doesn’t remember what she did. Teams were sent to take on the Acolytes and rescue the hostages. And in the end the Acolytes were losing, so Wanda changed reality and Aunt Solangel countered it enough that you all remembered the events. The combination of the direct hit from Wanda to the chest and the shock wave from Aunt Solangel to the back caused a rip in time and sent Logan there. Did I miss anything?”, Landon recapped then looked to the adults. “No you got the details then. So what exactly do Speed and Wiccan have to do with this? What happened tonight? And what about Wanda?”, David questioned. “Their names are Tommy and Billy and they are going to be moving into the Haven taking mine and Nate’s old room tonight.”, Landon corrected to some confused looks. “What are you talking about move to the Haven? Who said I was agreeing to that?”, David asked folding his arms.

“Didn’t say you were agreeing to it dad. You just don’t get a choice. Haven law states any mutant seeking refuge and claiming sanctuary cannot be refused. They risked their lives for me and my team tonight. They were disowned for helping us and for loving people their mother didn’t think they should.”, Landon argued. “Wait what?”, Jean asked shaking her head. Landon took a deep breath. “Billy had to do the spell to free Logan. Tommy stole Wanda’s spell book for it. Billy did the spell tapping into Aunt Solangel’s power, yes we got her to help us, and Rose. Atif protected them with a shield and the rest of us faced Wanda. Tommy tackled his mom to protect Atif because Billy is in love with Atif. Tommy agreed to help us in the first place because he’s in love with Lily. I know it’s weird I’m over it, so moving on. Aurelia helped as she could during the fight. Wanda came at me with a blade, thus the cuts on my hands.”, Landon explained. “Wait what? Wanda got close enough to my son with a knife? She got past my daughter with a knife?”, David exclaimed. “I know. I don’t know how did it, but she did. I used a lot of my power an changed the knife into day lilies. Then Cora Lee and Lily were able to hold her back. Ashley used my tie to bandage my hands.”, Landon explained. “You changed a knife, a inorganic thing into something organic?”, Demitri asked. Landon nodded. “I said it took everything I had to do it. But Wanda didn’t stay down. She knocked everyone down, I took a hit to the back to protect Ashley. Aurelia got involved and dragged Wanda away. Didn’t last because Wanda came back and tried to take out Atif to get past his shield.”, Landon explained. “And?”, Annia asked. “I stepped in the way.”, Landon said with a shrug.

“You did what?”, Aislinn asked hitting his arm. “I couldn’t let her kill Atif mom. He’s my best friend and if he went down that would leave Aunt Solangel, Billy and Rose vulnerable. So I didn’t think I just acted and put myself between her and them. I’m obviously alive.”, Landon pointed out rubbing his arm. “And how exactly did you manage to survive an attack from Scarlet Witch?”, Jean asked. Landon smiled. “Logan. The spell had completed and he appeared behind Wanda claws drawn and threatened to expose her spine and take his revenge if she let her hex ball loose at me.”, Landon said smiling. “So he’s back?!”, Mikali asked. Landon nodded. “Where is he?”, Annai asked. “My guess? Somewhere between the park and the pub having lots of sex with Aurelia.”, Landon said simply. “That sounds like Logan..”, Jean said shaking her head. “You do understand what you’ve done right?”, Demitri asked. Landon nodded. “Yes. I found the truth. I did what was right. And come the time Duncan is told I’ll be telling him exactly what I’ve told you. I’m the leader, weather I like it or not, and I’ll take the blame. I don’t think this will start a war. Wanda wouldn’t want that. Exposing the truth to her people will show them that she’d lied and manipulated their memories. I doubt she wants a revolt in her own ranks. But know this, Lily and I have every intention of going to Kim. She deserves to know why she’s been written off. How something she did fifteen years ago but doesn’t remember has been held against her all these years. Then she can make her own decision on what she wants to do.”, Landon said standing up. “Now, if you’ll excuse me there are some worried people outside I should talk to and maybe I’ll finish the gig.”, Landon stated stretching and heading for the door to leave the adults alone to think about what had just happened.

While Landon was telling the adults what had happened the other kids were outside wanting to know what went down too. “So what happened?”, Blaire asked looking from Ashley to Rose. But Rose and Ashley were keeping their eyes on the office door waiting to know if Landon would be alright. Tommy and Billy just stood off to the side feeling rather out of place amongst the institute kids without Lily and Atif there. Rachel watched the door, spinning her bracelet as she did. She felt her heart skip a beat again as the door opened but return to normal as Lily, Cora Lee and Atif walked out. “So? How is he?”, Rose asked. “He’s fine. Uncle Mikali healed him. He’s in there explaining to the adults what happened.”, Cora Lee explained walking over. Lily looked to Tommy and smiled walking over and hugging him before tugging him closer to the group. Atif took Billy’s hand and brought him over too. “Landon said to thank you two and tell you it’ll take more than Wanda to bring him down.”, Lily said with a smile. Tommy shook his head. “You’re cousin is insane, you know that right.”, Billy stated looking to Lily. The rest laughed. “That’s Landon.”, Atif stated. “So he’s alright?”, Rachel asked wanting to just reconfirm. Atif nodded. “Yes. He’s alright. Mikali healed him before he lost too much blood.”, Atif explained. “Alright so will someone please tell the rest of us inquiring minds what happened? Why you all left like that?”, Blaire asked again. “You tell them, Rose.”, Atif suggested. The others turned to look to Rose. “Well…um. Long story short we found out my dad is alive and there was a way to bring him out of the limbo he’d been in. So we teamed up with Tommy and Billy here, faced Scarlet Witch, and got my dad back.”, Rose explained. Everyone blinked event hat short synopsis was shocking. “Gran..grandfather is alive? Where is he?”, Xavier questioned. “Yes he’s alive and he’s back. His with mom doing things I think we are best not to think about…”, Rose answered.

Xavier turned his attention to Tommy and Billy, bring his arms from around Ashley and walked over to them. He brought his hands up one palm flat and the other in a fist facing each other and bowed to them. “Thank you. Thank you both. You don’t know what this means to our family to have him back.”, Xavier said. Tommy raised an eyebrow and looked to Billy who shrugged. “You’re welcome..”, they said uncertain. Rachel decided to try and not focus on what was going on beyond the door, though she thought maybe him surviving tonight meant the vision was over. In the back of her mind she mulled over telling him how she feels. She turned to Tommy and Billy and smiled hugging each of them. “Thank you so much for helping bring my Uncle back. My family is going to be so happy to have him home.”, Rachel said. Tommy and Billy exchanged confused looks about the hugs. Lily laughed and shook her head. “You two might want to get used to hugs. Because these probably aren’t the last of the Howlett family that is going to hug you for what you did tonight. And moving to the Haven Aislinn is a hugger too.”, Lily warned. “This will take adjusting…”, Billy said but smiled. The others moved closer to Tommy and Billy. “So you two really helped them bring back Logan and take on your own mother?”, Blaire asked bluntly. Tommy nodded. “Yeah. Billy did the spell to bring Wolverine back and I helped the others fend off our mom. Though really your leader, Landon…that boy’s grade A hero material.”, Tommy stated with a laugh. Billy nodded. “Seeing him in action it’s actual apparent why you all follow him and why our mom fears him coming to power in the X-Men.”, Billy agreed. “So how did Landon get hurt?”, Bianca asked. “Our mom. She loves her boot knife. She managed to pin him to a tree and well he grabbed the blade but…”, Tommy said reaching into his pocket pulling out the half dozen of blood stained yellow daylilies. “He did one hell of a trick that even startled my mom. These used to be her knife.”, Tommy said holding up the flowers. There was a slight gasp, though Cora Lee looked down in shame thinking about how she let Wanda get that close to Landon with a knife. “Interesting choice of flower….”, Blaire commented discreetly elbowing Rachel. Billy sighed and took the flowers from his twin turning them in his hand. “I still don’t know how he was able to do this. His powers have limits to organic material. Plus…”, Billy said still looking at the flowers then smiled. “That’s the loophole.”, Billy stated

“What’s the loophole?”, Landon asked stepping out of the office. Everyone’s attention turned to Landon, without thinking Rachel pushed through the group and hugged him. “I was so worried…”, she said in almost a whisper burying her face into his chest. Landon grunted a little at the sudden hug but returned it. “I’m alright Rachel. I told you no fear and no worries.”, Landon stated. “So what’s this about loopholes?”, Landon asked. Rose watched her cousin rush to Landon and hug him and wished she’d thought of it, though after kissing him and getting no response she was certain that ship had not only sailed but had only been a dream. But there was part of her that was jealous that he was hugging Rachel. Rachel nodded and let go of him now suddenly embarrassed by her sudden action. Blaire noticed Rachel’s embarrassment and decided to ease it by going over to Landon and hugging him too. Hope and Bianca followed suit and the three hugged him. “Alright, I am feeling the love…hey watch the hands Blaire.”, Landon said playfully even though Blaire’s hands didn’t move below his waist. Blaire chuckled as she, Hope and Bianca let him go. “Don’t worry you aren’t my type Landon.”, Blaire said sticking her tongue out. “Now someone tell me about the darn loophole.”, Landon repeated looking to Billy. Billy tossed the flowers to Landon who caught them. “My mom’s knife. I know how she got it past your sister and how you were able to change something traditionally inorganic. My mom casted a spell on the knife to hide it, disguise it but not like an illusion but at the atomic level. She knew your sister is a metal manipulator like your father and our grandfather. So she made it no longer feel like metal. And because it was no longer technically metal you were able to alter it to those flowers.”, Billy explained. Landon turned the flowers in his hand and shrugged. “Interesting. Definitely explains it, still took a lot of my energy to do. But alright so I’ve filled our parents in on what went down and that Tommy and Billy are moving into my old room at the Haven. So we have a couple choices. We either stay, maybe finish the gig, or we go home and pass the fuck out.”, Landon stated looking over the group.

“I say you guys celebrate. You saved Logan, lived, and it’s new years!”, Blaire suggested. Ashley nodded. “Yeah let’s celebrate guys then we can go pass out from our exhaustion.”, Ashley agreed taking Xavier’s hand and heading to the dance floor. Gabriel offered his hand out to Bianca who accepted and then headed for the dance floor. Tommy thought for a moment. “Wait. Holy shit I can dance with you and it not start some stupid fight. SWEET.”, Tommy said grabbing Lily’s hand and tugging her to the dance floor to dance with him. “Come on Hope, let’s find people to dance with too.”, Blaire suggested hooking arms with Hope as they headed to the floor to find people to dance with. Hope looking to find Jamie to dance with again having felt bad for cutting their dancing short when she saw the others race out of the club. “Come on Atif let’s go dance.”, Billy suggested. “Um give me just a minute. I need to talk to Landon.”, Atif said letting Billy’s hand go and grabbing Landon’s wrist pulling him away from the others. Cora Lee sighed and looked to Rose. “So think we should go back to the stage?”, Cora Lee asked. Rose nodded. “Yeah when Atif’s done talking to your brother I’m sure he’ll want to go play.”, Rose said and the two headed for the stage. Rachel stood there uneasy wondering what Atif could need to talk to Landon about, not knowing Billy was wondering the same thing.

“What’s up?”, Landon asked looking past Atif watching Rose walked to the stage with Cora Lee. He’d survived the fight with Wanda and about now he wanted to make up for his lack of reaction when Rose kissed him at the park. Though as he thought about that his eyes landed on Rachel who was spinning the bracelet and he found himself torn about what he wanted to know with this new found ‘life’. “The vision. I had it again when we were in the office. It’s not over with Wanda. She’s going to come after you again and just like before I still see you fall.”, Atif said his voice just loud enough to be heard over the music from the DJ. “What? Seriously? God fucking damn it. And there goes my plans…at least now I know it’s Wanda. I can train for it and be ready for her. I’m not going to let her take me down.”, Landon said patting Atif on the shoulder. “Now go dance with Billy before he thinks you’re over here trying to get with me.”, Landon teased shoving Atif. Atif sighed shaking his head but went to Billy and took his hand and went to the dance floor. Landon let out an exasperated sigh and turned punching a wooden post in frustration. “Fucking damn it..”, Landon grumbled. Rachel watched him hit the post and walked over concerned. “Landon? What’s wrong? What did Atif talk to you about?”, Rachel asked spinning the bracelet. Landon sighed turning to look at her he shook his head looking at her spinning the bracelet. He reached out and covered her hand with his to stop her. “Thought I told you that you’ll hurt yourself spinning it like that. Don’t make me regret making it for you.”, Landon said. Rachel smiled softly taking her hand from the bracelet and taking hold of his hand instead looking over where she’d known the wound had been.

“So…”, she said looking up at him. “You going to tell me what Atif said that go you to angry you punched a post?”, Rachel asked. “You’re not going to like it. And I don’t want to worry you any more than I have tonight.”, Landon said forcing a smile. “Don’t ever fake a smile with me Landon. You are always honest, at least with me. So be honest. What did Atif say?”, Rachel asked reaching up to touch the side of his face with her other hand. Landon sighed not sure if he should be honest again. Last time he told her all it did was cause her to worry. But feeling her hand on the side of his face and looking into her eyes it was hard to not just tell her. Then in his mind he was also thinking to the last time a Howlett girl placed her hands on his face, he’d been given a rather forceful kiss on the lips. “The vision hasn’t changed. Your Uncle stepping in tonight to save me didn’t change it, just delayed it. So my fight with Wanda isn’t over.”, Landon stated. Rachel froze for a moment, so it wasn’t over which meant she couldn’t tell him how she felt. She nodded. “Alright so what do you do now?”, Rachel asked. “I train and get ready to face her again.”, Landon answered. Rachel nodded looking down. “Hey…”, Landon said putting his hand under her chin to raise her face to look at him. “Don’t do that. You wanted the truth and I’ve given that to you but don’t do the pout thing. Please? It’s New Years and your Uncle is home safe it’s a time to celebrate not to frown.”, Landon said before kissing her cheek. “Happy New Year Rachel.”, he stated with a real smile this time. Rachel sighed inwardly as he lifted her chin, in a perfect world more a kin to a day dream that moment felt like one he’d have kissed her lips in but this was reality and instead he kissed her cheek. Rachel nodded. “Alright. Happy New Year, Landon.”, She said leaning up and kissing his cheek before taking her hand away and taking her hand from his. “Guess we should go celebrate the huh? Rose and Cora Lee headed for the stage, guess you guys are going to play some more.”, Rachel said starting to walk away. “Yeah…that’s a good plan.”, Landon said. “I’m gonna grab Uncle Demtiri, there’s a song I want to play that I can’t sing and drum for.”, Landon said thinking for a moment what he wanted to start with. Rachel nodded and headed back to the dance floor. Landon leaned into the office the adults all talking about what they were going to do now that the secret was out but went silent when the door opened.

“Oh go on talking, not like there’s much secrets left to keep. I won’t be long anyways. We are going to play some more songs before we take Tommy and Billy to the Haven and then crash. But I need Uncle Demitri to drum at least for one song.”, Landon said pointing to Demitri. Demitri shrugged. “Alright fine, I’ll drum.”, Demitri said getting up and following Landon out. “You realize how scared your parents are right now?”, Demitri asked as they walked to the stage. “I could wager a guess. And I’d guess more than I am.”, Landon stated with a smile walking up to Rose and Cora Lee with Demitri. “So we playing? What’s with Uncle Demitri?”, Cora Lee asked. “Yeah we play. I want to start with ‘Take me to Church’ feeling moderately religious after seeing my life flash before my eyes.”, Landon said with a grin glancing to Rose. “Alright so Demitri’s drumming. Let’s do this then.”, Rose said. Demitri nodded and headed onto the stage picking up Landon’s sticks and sitting at the kit. It felt weird he hadn’t been on stage in so long after Chi Weapon stopped playing gigs because they grew up and became dads. Cora Lee headed up to the stage and grabbed her bass from its stand where she’d left it and put her mic back on. Rose went to head up the stairs but Landon grabbed her wrist. “Look, about what happened at the park with the kiss…”, Landon started to say. “Let’s not talk about that right now alright? Let’s just play some music.”, Rose said not wanting to hear the ‘I like you but not that way’ sentence she was sure Landon was going to say. Landon nodded. “Alright, another time then. But either way.”, Landon paused and kissed her cheek. “Happy New Year. Now let’s play some music.”, Landon said letting go of her wrist. “Happy New Year.”, Rose said quietly before getting onto the stage and getting her guitar and mic. Landon followed and got his mic and moved to the front of the stage and gave a nod to the DJ who stopped playing. The crowd turned to look at the stage.

Landon was sure they weren’t much to look at, their clothes messed up, torn and dirty from the fight. “HAPPY NEW YEAR Draven patrons! Sorry we took our break so early and bailed on you all. But we are back and ready to play a little music for you before we go home for the night. Joining us you’ll have noticed on drums is one of the club owners. Most of you just know him as Demtiri, florist and club owner. But some of you know him as more than that. Please welcome the drummer of Chi Weapon my Uncle Demitri Shadow!”, Landon said giving an introduction. Demitri gave a nod to the crowd with a smile. The crowd clapped just glad Meddling Kids was back. But the kids from the institute whistled and cheered at Demtiri’s introduction. “WOO CHI WEAPON!”, they shouted. Demitri shook his head and just twirled the sticks ready. Landon gave a nod and Rose, Demitri, and Cora Lee started to play. Landon nodded a little his head trying to focus on just the music and not think about the nights events or the vision Atif still saw. “My lovers got humor…”, Landon started signing with a smile. “She’s the giggle at a funeral. Knows everybody’s disapproval.”, he continued his eyes scanning the crowd then looked to his right at Rose as he sang the lines. “I should’ve worshiped her sooner. If the Heavens ever did speak…”, he said his eyes moving from Rose back to the crowd and stopping at Rachel who was just smiling enjoying the music. “She’s the last true mouth piece.”, he said before letting his eyes scan the crowd again. “Every Sundays’ getting more bleak. A fresh poison each week. ‘We were born sick’ you heard them say it. My church offers no absolution. She tells me ‘worship in the bedroom’. The only heaven I’ll be sent to. Is when I’m alone with you.”, his voice sang out his eyes glancing to Rose and then to Rachel. No one really noticed the movement of his eyes including Rose who was just focusing on playing her part of the song.

“I was born sick, but I love it. Command me to be well. Aaaaa…aaamen, aamen, amen.”,Landon said extending the notes and looking out into the crowd. “Take me to church! I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies. I’ll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife. Offer me that dealthless death.”, he sang being joined with Cora Lee and Rose. Landon’s eyes went to his group of friends for th elas line of the chorus. “Good God, let me give you my life.”, he sang with more meaning than the song probably intended. But given how just near an hour ago he was ready to give his life for his friends it seemed fitting. “If I’m a pagan of the good times. My lover’s the sunlight. To keep the goodness on my side. She demands a sacrifice. To drain the whole sea.”, Landon sang out alone moving around the stage now getting into the song more. “Get something shiny. Something meaty for the main course.”, he sang giving a smile to his sister at the ‘shiny’ line. “That’s a fine looking high horse. What you got in the stable? We’ve been starving faithful. That looks tasty. That looks plenty. This is huuuungry work!”,he continued to sing out to the crowd. He was joined again for the chorus. “Take me to church. I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies. I’ll you my sins and you can sharpen your knife. Offer me that dealthless death. Good Gooood, let me give you my life!”, they sang Landon looking from Cora Lee to Rose as the ‘give you my life’ line was sang again.

“No masters or kings when the ritual begins. There is no sweeter innocence than our gentle sin. In the madness and soil of that sad earthly scene. Only then I am huuuman! Only then am I clean! Aaaaamen, Amen, Amen!”, Landon’s voice sang out clear and holding certain notes he felt important. And then it was to the final chorus. “Take me to church! I’ll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies. I’ll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife. Offer me that dealthless death. GOOOOD GOD, let me give you my LIFE!”, Landon sang the final chorus alone dropping to his knees as he sang at the edge of the stage. The crowd loved it and how much emotion he put in it. His friends all for half a second worried he’d fallen for lack of strength after their battle. Which was half true. He pulled himself back to his feet and gave a little bow. Rose and Cora Lee looked to each other and then to Landon mouthing ‘are you okay?’ which he nodded and headed to his drums. “Thanks Uncle Demitri.”, Landon said holding out his hands for his sticks. Demitri nodded handing Landon the sticks getting up and heading off the stage. The band performed an additional half hour before any adrenaline they had from the fight was gone. “Thank you all for coming out tonight. That concludes our set for the night. Look forward to seeing you more here in 2023!”, Cora Lee said before setting down her bass and exiting the stage followed by Rose and Landon.

The others walked over to meet them off the stage, Rachel handed Landon, Rose, and Cora Lee each a sealed bottle of water figuring they’d want it. “Thanks.”, they said before guzzling the cold water. “So now what?”, Billy asked. Landon wiped some sweat from his brow and looked at everyone. “Well first I guess I take some people home and to the institute then get you two over to the Haven before I fall asleep.”, Landon stated. “Don’t worry about us younger kids. My dad is going to drive Blaire and Rachel to their houses then Hope, Bianca and I to the institute.”, Gabriel stated. “Alright so I just drive the others to the institute and Xavier home before taking Tommy and Billy to the Haven.”, Landon said. “Why don’t we all crash at the Haven? That way Tommy and Billy aren’t alone in a new place.”, Lily suggested. “I can get a ride with Gabriel if that makes it easier.”, Xavier suggested. Gabriel nodded. “Alright. So night guys we’ll see you later. Gang to the van. And Lily give me my keys. I can drive again and I felt sorry for everyone and specially the van with the way you drive.”, Landon said holding out his hand. Xavier gave Ashley a goodnight kiss and followed Gabriel and the others to wait for Warren. Lily gave up the keys and the followed him with the others out to the van and loaded up to head for the Haven. It’d been a long night and crashing in her old temporary room she’d shared with Cora Lee sounded amazing.